TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POSTS SEPTEMBER 25, 2026

TODAY’S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY’S BEST BLOG POSTS
 SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
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U.S. NEWS

1. Federal Judge Rules Against White House Media Ban: A federal court judge ordered the administration to restore full credentials to White House press correspondents from CNN, MS Now, and Politico, ruling that the sudden access revocation likely violated due process protections.

2. ICE Transparency Changes Under Fire: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stopped publicly reporting the location of thousands of detainees under final removal orders, triggering pushback from civil rights attorneys and legal aid groups.

3. Severe Weather and Wildfire Response in Western States: Two helicopter pilots tragically died while battling active wildfires in Yosemite National Park over the weekend as West Coast crews continue fighting persistent dry conditions.

4. Vermont Shooting Trial Mistrial Analysis: Defense attorneys requested a formal investigation into a sole dissenting juror in the high-profile trial of a man accused of shooting three Palestinian college students, following a declared mistrial.

POLITICS

1. U.S.-China Bilateral Summit at the White House: Chinese President Xi Jinping met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, pressing the administration to publicly oppose Taiwan's independence, while both leaders highlighted mutual interests in AI cooperation and trade stability.

2. Diplomatic Push to Leave International Criminal Court Falters: President Trump urged nations at the UN General Assembly to withdraw from the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC), though the appeal saw minimal international pickup beyond Nauru.

3. U.S. Diplomacy Urges Ukraine Energy Ceasefire: U.S. officials are pressing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to consider a targeted energy ceasefire with Russia, as escalating global supply shocks continue to strain world diesel markets.

4. House Ethics Spotlight on Congressional Members: Representative Lauren Boebert publicly denied misconduct allegations surrounding staffer relationships, framing an ethics complaint against her as politically motivated.

WORLD AFFAIRS

1. Ukraine Addresses UN General Assembly on Foreign Recruits: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed at the UNGA that Russia is deploying fighters from 47 nations, calling on those governments to halt the recruitment of their citizens into the conflict.

2. Iran Outlines Stance on U.S. Tensions at UN: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed world leaders in New York, stating Iran will not submit to foreign pressure, while leaving open potential avenues for diplomatic negotiation.

3. Diplomatic Rifts and Bilateral Cuts: Colombia formally cut diplomatic ties with Iran, while EU foreign policy officials warned that two-state peace frameworks face worsening friction on the ground in the Middle East.

4. South Asian Regional Climate Appeal: Nepal’s Prime Minister proposed a new Himalayan resilience coalition at the United Nations, demanding international climate justice for vulnerable mountain ecosystems.

EDUCATION

1. NEET PG 2026 Examination Results Released: The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) released the official NEET PG 2026 results ahead of schedule, with individual scorecards slated for early October.

2. IIT Faculty Push for Standard Malpractice Protocols: Professors across Indian Institutes of Technology demanded standardized, compassionate institutional procedures for handling academic integrity cases following student mental health crises.

3. Historical Leadership Appointment at Allahabad University: Sangita Srivastava took charge for a historic second consecutive term as Vice Chancellor of Allahabad University, marking a precedent for the institution.

4. University Protests Legal Charges Dropped: Charges were dropped against five Stanford University students originally facing prosecution stemming from pro-Palestinian campus protests.

ECONOMY

1. U.S. Deficit Projections Hit $2 Trillion: The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB) reported that the U.S. budget deficit reached nearly $2 trillion for fiscal 2026, urging fiscal adjustments to curb inflation and protect long-term debt servicing.

2. Federal Reserve Interest Rate Strategy Shifts: Economic analysts and bond markets recalibrated expectations around the Federal Reserve's rate path, citing persistent core inflation pressures and rising energy costs.

3. India Trimming Import Duties to Stabilize Consumer Goods: The Central Government announced duty cuts on palm, soybean, and sunflower oils ahead of peak festive demand to ease domestic food inflation.

4. AI Capital Expenditure Driving GDP Growth: Financial briefings highlighted that non-residential capital spending—specifically AI data center investments—continues to account for a substantial share of U.S. economic growth throughout 2026.

TECHNOLOGY

1. Quantum Computing Milestone in Phonon Observation: Stanford University researchers succeeded in observing real-time quantum state jumps of sound (phonons), offering a breakthrough for quantum information error correction.

2. Photonic Computing Advance at Caltech: Engineers unveiled a nanoscale chip capable of steering light in femtoseconds, bringing silicon-based optical computing closer to replacing electric circuitry on microchips.

3. U.S.-China AI Dialogue Launched: During White House talks, U.S. and Chinese delegations established a shared framework to manage global safety risks and maintain communication on frontier artificial intelligence systems.

4. Youth Critical Thinking & AI Safety Fund Launched: Young Futures opened applications for "The Unwritten Challenge," distributing $1 million in grants to non-profit initiatives supporting critical thinking for youth growing up alongside generative AI tools.

HEALTH

1. Physician Advocacy Groups Challenge Medicaid Rules: The American Medical Association (AMA) urged federal regulators to adjust proposed Medicaid provider tax restrictions, warning of potential financial strains on state safety-net programs.

2. Vizient Quality & Safety Hospital Rankings Announced: Six Cleveland Clinic facilities were awarded top national honors for hospital safety, operational accountability, and clinical performance in Vizient's 2026 quality study.

3. Pediatric Congenital Screening Expands: Major regional pediatric networks expanded newborn screenings for targeted viral conditions that contribute to developmental delays and early hearing loss.

4. National Institute on Aging Renewal Grant: Researchers secured a $21.1 million renewal grant from the NIH to continue multi-year studies into Alzheimer's disease biomarkers and therapeutic intervention protocols.

SPORTS

1. Asian Games 2026 Medal Standings Surge: China crossed the 101-medal mark on Day 6 of the 2026 Asian Games, leading the total count, followed by Japan and India.

2. Historic Gold in Rowing Lightweight Sculls: Iranian rowers Kimia Zarei and Zeinab Norouzi captured gold in the women's lightweight double sculls after months of solitary home training.

3. International Cricket Series Underway: One-Day International (ODI) matches continued across global tours, highlighting South Africa vs. Australia and England vs. Sri Lanka series openers.

4. Track & Field Relay Success: India secured silver in the 4x400m mixed relay following strong anchor legs in late-session track events.

DIANE RAVITCH'S SUBSTACK Defend DEI and Fairness for All! Come to Wellesley College to Hear a Spirited Critique of the Attack on DEI DIANE RAVITCH https://substack.com/home/post/p-216852396 

8-Year-Old Boy Starved and Beaten to Death. His Mother Allegedly Was Home-Schooling Him. https://dianeravitch.net/2026/09/24/8-year-old-boy-starved-and-beaten-to-death-his-mother-allegedly-was-home-schooling-him/ via @dianeravitch 

Jan Resseger: What Ohio's New School Grades Tell Us: It's Better to be Rich! https://dianeravitch.net/2026/09/24/jan-resseger-what-ohios-new-school-grades-tell-us-its-better-to-be-rich/ via @dianeravitch 

Is It 1950 Again? Provost at University of Texas-Austin Removes Majors in All Ethnic, Racial, and Gender Studies. https://dianeravitch.net/2026/09/24/is-it-1950-again-provost-at-university-of-texas-austin-removes-majors-in-all-ethnic-racial-and-gender-studies/ via @dianeravitch 

Big Education Ape: PRESS NOT ADMITTED: A SATIRIST'S GUIDE TO THE UPSIDE OF PRESIDENTIAL PRESS BAN https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/09/press-not-admitted-satirists-guide-to.html 

Big Education Ape: RIGHT OUT OF THE BILLIONAIRES' PLAYBOOK ON DESTROYING THE COMMONS https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/09/right-out-of-billionaires-playbook-on.html 

Big Education Ape: TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POSTS SEPTEMBER 24, 2026 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/09/todays-top-news-yesterdays-best-blog_0841264764.html 

Big Education Ape: MORNING NEWS UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 24, 2026 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/09/morning-news-update-september-24-2026.html 

The Public Purpose of Public Schooling---A Summary of Expert Thinking https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2026/09/24/the-public-purpose-of-public-schooling-a-summary-of-expert-thinking/ via @janresseger 

Six Ways To Help Students Motivate Themselves     Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/ 

GenAI use among online adult learners = academic performance and technology confidence     Education Research Report https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/ 

glen brown: Court Strikes Down Media Ban; Trump’s Weakness Is Apparent to the Whole World https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2026/09/court-strikes-down-media-ban-trumps.html 

Union Matters     Retired Teacher Chapter Is Union, Says Unity If so, how can they lobby against us? ARTHUR GOLDSTEIN https://arthurgoldstein.substack.com/p/retired-teacher-chapter-part-of-union 

Schools Matter: OpenAI Bot Hacks Australian Government Website http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2026/09/openai-bot-hacks-australian-government.html 

Teacher Tom: Without Emotion Reasonable Decisions are Impossible https://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2026/09/without-emotion-reasonable-decisions.html 

Education Journalism and Education Reform as Industry “The administrations in charge never cease announcing supposedly necessary reforms: to reform schools, to reform industries, hospitals, the armed forces, prisons” Gilles Deleuze PAUL THOMAS https://paulthomas701128.substack.com/p/education-journalism-and-education 

The Potential Harm of Science of Reading Laws Limiting Children’s Cognitive Development While Non-Human Intelligence is Increasing Exponentially An Audio Excerpt of the September 6, 2026 Paper on the A.I. - Child Learning Paradox DENNY TAYLOR https://teachingindangeroustimes.substack.com/p/the-potential-harm-of-science-of 

The Education Report     Ohio Charter Schools Cost a Lot and Perform Poorly, So Why Are They Offered as a Solution to “Failing Schools?” Ohio spends big on charters, the ROI is pretty terrible ANDY SPEARS https://theeducationreport.substack.com/p/ohio-charter-schools-cost-a-lot-and 

Denny Taylor     An Excerpt from the Very Long A.I. - Child Learning Paradox, published September 6, 2026, Substack Post The Potential Harm of SoR Laws Limiting Children’s Cognitive Development While Non-Human Intelligence is Increasing Exponentially:  https://teachingindangeroustimes.substack.com/p/an-excerpt-from-the-very-long-ai 

Star Meat Delivery Recalls Pork, Beef, and Goat On September 22, 2026, Star Meat Delivery Inc. recalled approximately 167,639 pounds of raw pork, beef, and goat products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection. https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/starmeatrecall.asp 

2026 SUN Bucks Eligibility Records Upload Reminder submit all 2026 SUN Bucks eligibility records to the Education Data Collection System (EDCS) by 5:00 p.m. on September 30, 2026. - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education) https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/sunbuckseligibility2026.asp 

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools' Enrollment Numbers as of Septembe... https://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2026/09/seattle-schools-enrollment-numbers-as.html?spref=tw 

Congress Once Had a Dedicated Voice for Children and Families. It’s Long Past Time to Bring It Back. BRUCE LESLEY AND ELLIOT HASPEL https://brucelesley.substack.com/p/congress-once-had-a-dedicated-voice 

TRUMP IN THE NEWS TODAY
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Top U.S. Education News Today

• Shift in College Rankings: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) claimed the #1 spot in the latest U.S. News & World Report national university rankings, unseating Princeton University after a 14-year streak at top position. The ranking methodology introduced a new metric evaluating "earnings by major" four years post-graduation.

• K-12 Screen Time & AI Bans: District-level phone bans and restrictions on classroom artificial intelligence usage are facing enforcement challenges as the school year progresses. While the American Psychological Association recommended measuring ed-tech impact beyond screen time, early data shows teacher vigilance around phone bans waning due to student workarounds.

• Federal Absenteeism Oversight Warnings: A federal watchdog report from the GAO noted that the U.S. Department of Education is not maintaining sufficient oversight over how states track chronic absenteeism, following suspensions of full compliance examinations under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

• Budget Strain & School Closures: Severe post-pandemic budget cliffs and shifting demographics continue to prompt school closures nationwide, with urban and suburban districts (such as District 65 in Illinois) shutting campuses to resolve multi-million dollar shortfalls ahead of the 2026–27 academic year.

Top World Education News Today

• Global PISA Benchmark Analysis: Analysis of global student performance highlights a widening gap in science and math literacy between East Asian education systems (such as China, Singapore, Macao, and South Korea) and Western nations. Researchers note that lower rates of reported digital distraction in classrooms correlate strongly with clear national phone policies and structured learning environments in top-performing systems.

• UK Higher Education Financial Reorganization: Universities across the United Kingdom face ongoing structural reorganization and course reductions amid reduced international student enrollment and frozen tuition fee caps, prompting calls for structural reform in university funding models.

• Global Ed-Tech Adoption & Cybersecurity Standards: International guidance continues to emphasize stronger cybersecurity protocols and standardized AI frameworks in primary and secondary schools, balancing data privacy concerns against classroom tech integration.

POLITICO barred from White House after court ruling restoring access - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/politico-barred-from-white-house-after-court-ruling-restoring-access-01091263 

All eyes on the Missouri map battle | SCOTUSblog https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/all-eyes-on-the-missouri-map-battle/ 

30,000 free books up for grabs at Asheville literacy fair - Asheville's 828 News NOW https://828newsnow.com/news/228822-30000-free-books-up-for-grabs-at-asheville-literacy-fair/ 

The rule of four and role of custom on the Supreme Court | SCOTUSblog https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/the-rule-of-four-and-role-of-custom-on-the-supreme-court/ 

OpenAI’s agents breached Australian government data. Its human response may do more damage. - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/openai-australia-government-data-breach-01091253 

California voters oppose new data centers, poll finds - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/california-voters-oppose-new-data-centers-poll-01090946

School Is Back in Session, and Recess Is Having a Moment | LA School Report https://www.laschoolreport.com/school-is-back-in-session-and-recess-is-having-a-moment/ 

Trump to talk AI with Xi at White House, but wants to ‘leave it exactly where it is’ - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/trump-xi-jinping-ai-01091337 

Devolving standards of decency | SCOTUSblog https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/devolving-standards-of-decency/ 

Iran victims turn to the swamp for help lobbying Trump - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/iran-victims-k-street-lobbying-trump-administration-01090563 

Exclusive: Mamdani on Extreme Weather, DoorDash, And Why Trump Likes Him So Much – Mother Jones https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/mamdani-climate-crisis-donald-trump/ 

Ralph Ellison Trust Donates Rights to Bard College - The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/arts/ralph-ellison-bard-archive.html 

EU launches diplomatic offensive to stop Trump’s diesel export ban – POLITICO https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-launches-diplomatic-offensive-to-stop-trumps-diesel-export-ban/ 

POLITICO granted White House access after being denied earlier Thursday - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/politico-granted-white-house-access-after-being-denied-earlier-thursday-01091766 

Trump officials sideline local historians in arch review - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/trump-officials-sideline-local-historians-arch-01091468 

GAO finds ICE ‘wasted’ millions of dollars in deportation push - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/gao-trump-deportation-push-costs 

White House asks OpenAI and Anthropic to hold new models from UK testers until US review - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/white-house-asks-openai-and-anthropic-to-hold-new-models-from-uk-testers-until-u-s-review-01091769 

A Bookseller Confronts a Mysterious Company Hunting His Rarest Books  – Mother Jones https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/ai-books-destructive-scanning-blue-angel-chris-burden/

Schoolchildren Take Shelter in Kyiv - The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/europe/100000011139361/schoolchildren-take-shelter-in-kyiv.html 

Rep. Danny Williams censured for 'substantiated allegations of sexual harassment' https://nondoc.com/2026/09/24/rep-danny-williams-censured-for-substantiated-allegations-of-sexual-harassment/ 

Le Pen welcomes Trump’s G20 invite for Putin – POLITICO https://www.politico.eu/article/le-pen-welcomes-putins-g20-invite/ 

ICE Watch: Driving To Work or For DoorDash? They're Hunting You ~ L.A. TACO https://lataco.com/ice-watch-driving-to-work-or-for-doordash-theyre-hunting-you 

How a Russian Attack on the Midterms Deepfaked Mother Jones – Mother Jones https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/how-a-russian-attack-on-the-midterms-deepfaked-mother-jones-matryoshka-putin-trump/ 

Thousands Rally Against Trump’s Kennedy Center Takeover – Mother Jones https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/rally-authoritarian-toddler-takeover-kennedy-center-trump/ 

GOP holds the line on Iran despite growing midterm rift with Trump - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/gop-iran-war-vote-01092071 

Missouri election officials tell people to hold off voting while SCOTUS deliberates on gerrymander - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/missouri-voting-gerrymandering-supreme-court-01092262 

Europe grudgingly, gingerly moves toward Trump’s Board of Peace - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/europe-trump-gaza-board-of-peace-01092119 

Former California education secretary sues to force release of school partnership audit | EdSource https://edsource.org/updates/former-california-education-secretary-sues-to-force-release-of-fcmat-audit 

U.S. Department of Education employees: Trump cuts hurting students | EdSource https://edsource.org/updates/us-department-of-education-employees-say-trump-cuts-are-hurting-students 

California State University seeks $407M to repair dilapidated campus buildings | EdSource https://edsource.org/updates/california-state-university-seeks-407m-to-repair-dilapidated-campus-buildings 

DA closes investigation into SD 38 candidate Barry Christian's death https://nondoc.com/2026/09/24/da-closes-investigation-into-sd-38-candidate-barry-christians-death/ 

Italy Moves to Cap Number of Foreign Students in Its Classrooms - The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/24/world/europe/italy-schools-migrants.html 

Appeals court appears skeptical of former Sen. Bob Menendez’s conviction - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/bob-menendez-appeals-court-arguments-01092139 

'Let's push prices down': Wright asks oil industry to curb exports - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/wright-seeking-voluntary-fuel-export-cuts-01092137 

AISD chief backs parents’ petition amid state takeover threat https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/24/austin-isd-takeover-burnet-webb-petition-mayor/ 

The Sea We Learned to Fear - Progressive.org https://progressive.org/latest/the-sea-we-learned-to-fear-herzallah-20260924/ 

Mamdani allies arrested at anti-Netanyahu protests outside United Nations https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/mamdani-allies-arrested-at-anti-netanyahu-protests-outside-united-nations-01092343 

Netanyahu uses UN address to highlight Trump ties — and harangue everyone else https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/netanyahu-uses-un-address-to-highlight-trump-ties-and-harangue-everyone-else-01092551 

Court reinstates Ohio law requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/ohio-citizenship-registration-01092684

Professor Sues New School, Claiming Tenure Has Been Dismantled - The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/24/nyregion/news-shool-lawsuit-professor-tenure-layoffs.html 

Why Medicare for All is now possible - Progressive.org https://progressive.org/op-eds/why-medicare-for-all-is-now-possible-delay-20260924/ 

Trump administration again urges justices to allow deportations to third-party countries | SCOTUSblog https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/trump-administration-again-urges-justices-to-allow-deportations-to-third-party-countries/ 

The U.S. Government Quietly Just Made It Legal to Go Through Your Phone at the Border ~ L.A. TACO https://lataco.com/phone-surveillance-border 

Mikie Sherrill demands NJ lieutenant governor resign after report found improper behavior with women - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/mikie-sherrill-demands-nj-lieutenant-governor-resign-after-report-found-improper-behavior-with-women-01092915 

Trump eyes an October campaign rally — in Alabama - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/trump-eyes-an-october-campaign-rally-in-alabama-01092853 

California Supreme Court orders seized ballots returned in Riverside County case - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/california-supreme-court-orders-seized-ballots-returned-riverside-county-01092045 

Cyber agency unveils national election security plan weeks before the midterms - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/cisa-election-security-plan-midterms-01091843 

New Yorkers Lined the Streets Against Benjamin Netanyahu’s Visit – Mother Jones https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/israel-gaza-protest-netanyahu-new-york-united-nations-speech/ 

Justice Department Scraps Dozens of School Desegregation Cases - The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/24/us/politics/justice-department-desegregation-cases.html 

Cambridge Abandons Plans to Fully Investigate Its Hiring of Jason Arday - The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/25/world/europe/cambridge-jason-arday-investigation.html